DETAILS BEGIN TO EMERGE ON INVESTIGATION OF DEBARTOLO

A Federal grand-jury investigation of 49ers co-Owner
Edward DeBartolo Jr. is "focusing on a $400,000 cash payment
he made to former Gov. Edwin W. Edwards less than three
weeks before his company obtained a casino license in
Louisiana, according to people with knowledge of the probe"
and cited by Laurie Cohen of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The
investigation began in fall '96 when the FBI wiretapped
Edwards' home and law office (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/4). A
source told the S.F. CHRONICLE that Federal agents "were
listening" when DeBartolo "offered to pay" as much as
$400,000 for the license and that he "got caught in an
elaborate federal sting" aimed at Edwards. The source
added: "There's no question who the government was after.
Then along comes Eddie" (Fagan, Pimentel & Dietz, S.F.
CHRONICLE, 12/4). In Baton Rouge, former Gov. Edwards said
that the $383,500 that the FBI seized was paid to him by
DeBartolo to "watch out for his interests." Edwards:
"DeBartolo never asked me or intimated or suggested that I
do anything improper, out of line, or unethical. And no one
can say otherwise." He added that DeBartolo paid him the
money this year, "well after" he left office (Peter Shinkle,
Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 12/4). If convicted, DeBartolo "could
be banned for life" from the NFL (S.F. EXAMINER, 12/3).
SPEAKS TO THE TEAM: 49ers President Carmen Policy said
that DeBartolo had spoken to the team in a "closed meeting."
He said a "somewhat emotional but controlled" DeBartolo told
players that he was "committed to the team's future and
would be back" (S.F. EXAMINER, 12/3). Policy added that
DeBartolo's "pending indictment" would not affect the team
and that "there would be no impediment" to the team's new
stadium project. Policy: "The DeBartolo Corp. is doing
quite well. They will be able to withstand whatever
ramifications." He "rejected" suggestions that DeBartolo
and his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, who is a 50% partner
in the team, "would be forced to sell because of the legal
problems" (Fagan, Pimentel & Dietz, S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/4).
In San Jose, Mark Purdy calls DeBartolo's resignation
"overrated," and quotes one NFL team exec as saying, "Around
the league, I think most people will believe that Ed
DeBartolo is still going to play some part in major 49er
decisions" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/4). In S.F., Ray
Ratto wrote under the header, "Business As Usual? If So, It
May Get Rocky." Ratto: "One wonders if York's ambitions are
contained by her familial ties. One wonders if DeBartolo
really did resign in more than just name. One wonders
whether the NFL would bother to do anything to him even if
he is convicted. ... I think we're going to have to let this
play out a while" (S.F. EXAMINER, 12/3).
NOTES: A SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS editorial states:
"Whatever the legal outcome of this matter, [DeBartolo's]
image in the Bay area will never be quite the same" (MERCURY
NEWS, 12/4)....Also in San Jose, Herhold & Carey examine the
NFL's guidelines on gambling. DeBartolo's ownership of the
49ers as "he embarked on a bold, two-year venture into the
gaming industry was made possible by the [NFL's] lenient
restrictions on gambling, as far as owners are concerned."
NFL execs said yesterday that while they were "concerned"
over his gaming initiatives, they had taken "no firm stand
against his activities" (MERCURY NEWS, 12/4).